February 21-22, 2010
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Sunday afternoon:
Lihue, Kauai – 77
Honolulu, Oahu – 81
Kaneohe, Oahu – 77
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 80
Kahului, Maui – 83
Hilo, Hawaii – 77
Kailua-kona – 80
Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level around the state – and on the highest mountains…at 4pm Sunday afternoon:
Kahului, Maui – 81F
Kaneohe, Oahu – 73
Haleakala Crater – 57 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 45 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Sunday afternoon:
0.01 Kokee, Kauai
0.53 Maunawili, Oahu
0.00 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.04 Kahoolawe
1.01 Oheo Gulch, Maui
0.73 Glenwood, Big Island
Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1025 millibar high pressure system far to the east-northeast of Hawaii. This high has an elongated ridge of high pressure extending westward, located to the north of Kauai. This pressure configuration will keep our wind speeds light Monday and Tuesday.
Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around the state during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here’s a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.
Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.
Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific – Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here.
Aloha Paragraphs
Upper West…Maui
A relatively dry and stable air mass over the islands will limit rainfall through the next several days…although there will be those occasional showers. The leeward sides will find generally fine weather, with little if any rainfall. The windward sides will find a few showers falling at times, generally during the night and early morning hours. This IR satellite image shows generally clear skies over the coasts, with clouds over and around the mountains…which will clear out over night. If we look at an even larger view of the central Pacific, using this IR satellite picture, we can see areas of high cirrus clouds to our southeast…and to the north.
The winds were lighter Sunday, coming all the way down into light and variable conditions Monday and Tuesday. These winds will keep pleasant weather conditions over our islands….especially during the morning hours. Our winds will remain light into early in the new week…ahead of the next cold front Wednesday. The lighter winds will cause some afternoon clouds, and a few light showers in the upcountry areas. A cold front will arrive with some showers at mid-week…followed by chilly north to northeast winds again for a few days. The models now show southerly winds developing Friday into the weekend…ahead of the next showery cold front then.
It’s Sunday evening, as I begin writing the last section of today’s narrative. Sunday was quite a bit like the weather we saw on Saturday, and more or less like what we’ll see as we move through the first couple of days of the new work week ahead. Mornings will be clear and cool, with clouds forming over and around the mountains during the afternoons…with a few showers locally. The cold front arriving around mid-week, should provide some showers, but isn’t expected to be all that big a deal. We’ll see those cool north to northeast breezes briefly after it moves through. Then, and we’ll see warmer Kona breezes, which will start blowing towards the end of the upcoming work week. This will occur due to the approach of another cold front next weekend, which will bring cloudy and showery conditions to our state. ~~~ I work as usual in Kihei Monday, and then fly over to Honolulu for three days. I’ll be participating in a hurricane workshop sponsored by both FEMA, and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The meeting will be at the NWS forecast office, which happens to be located on the campus of the University of Hawaii, Manoa. ~~~ The showers that we saw here upcountry in Kula Saturday afternoon didn’t materialize Sunday afternoon. It’s 445pm as I write these last few words, with the temperature up here on the mountain, reading a slightly cool 65.8F degrees. Just 20 something minutes down the mountain, in Kahului at the same time, it was a much warmer 81 degrees. There are some high cirrus clouds starting to show themselves to the north of Maui, which if they spread further into the state, may bring some color to our local skies around sunset. ~~~ I’ll be back very early Monday morning with your next new weather narrative. I hope you have a great Sunday night until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.
Email Glenn James: 
Denis Says:
Mahalo Glenn, can’t wait to be in paradise. I’ll check in later this week. Dig your website, keep up the good work.~~~Thanks Denis, Aloha, Glenn
Denis Says:
Aloha Glenn, we will be arriving next Sunday and staying for one week. It looks like a cold front is coming in Saturday or Sunday. Do you have any idea how long the front will last and it’s projected strength? (not that we still won’t be coming regardless of the weather). Mahalo, Denis.~~~Hi Denis, expect that the cold front will be through bringing its showers perhaps on Monday, although if I was you, I’d keep looking at what the computer models are saying, which I’ll write about on this website…through the upcoming new work week. It shouldn’t have too much bearing on your vacation, other than perhaps the first couple of days at most. Have a great time! Aloha, Glenn
Sandy Says:
Heading to Maui on Saturday for 2 weeks. Weather last year was horrible with 50mph winds, cold and not a lot of sun. Any idea what to expect on the West Side for the trip this year?~~~Hi Sandy, that’s a good question, although not an easy one to give an answer to. We are having an El Nino winter, which is bringing drier than normal weather to our islands, if that is any hint. I would suggest that you check back in about a week, when there may be somewhat a better prospect of what you will be dealing with this year. I might add, best of luck! Aloha, Glenn